Twas a busy but FUN FUN FUN weekend.
I know I get stressed when I pack the weekend but I ADMIT I get a kick out of it.
I had to work this Saturday so that made it more stressful. To top it off the clinic decided to be busy.
In any case, I did my best and did make it home just when Madison finished her lunch. (thank goodness for forward planning-- I already told Warni to get her lunch ready that morning before she came over!)
We were expecting Celine's kids as she had to go to her brother's wedding lunch banquet. She decided not to drop them off the hotel daycare but to leave them in my ( ahem ) capable hands. (of course she left her mother's helper as well!!)
I was actually a little apprehensive because her children have not been away from her before.
BUT.. surprisingly they did very well. Aaron and Madison are merely 2 weeks apart so they got on well. We took them out for lunch and ice-cream at Novena Square. Aaron is alot BIGGER than Madison so there were times when a friendly hug became more like a WWF tackle.
After lunch Madison was definetely tired since she'd already had her tennis lesson in the morning, so I figured the easiest way to make them nap would be a car ride. Maddy fell asleep quite easily; Aaron was a whole different story! We drove around for almost an hour and he was WIDE awake. But I suppose he wakes at 9am so maybe he just wasn't tired.
We spent another hour or two entertaining the other 2 kids at home, then I started dinner. What was supposed to be just Caroline and her family grew into a mini pool party. Suyin came along, so then I invited Benjamin along. Then Celine decided to stay on as well. In all 6 kids and 9 adults ( including 2 helpers )! Most of us went in the pool for awhile, then had dinner at the condo 14th floor ( like an outdoor sky terrace) . It was great! All that was missing was ALCOHOL.
Sunday was quiet but we spent the day just US. Took Madison for lunch at Prive ( which she really enjoys ). In the afternoon, kids went swimming AGAIN, then to Marble Slab ice creamery after their dinner. The ice cream parlour is right next to the Botanic Gardens and we walked over after the ice-cream. It was fantastic! The weather wasn't too hot, and the black swans were out in full force. There were families flying kites, playing ?football and just chilling out on the lawn.
But... all too soon, Monday has come around and it's back to the grind. Madison's holidays are over too so it's back to usual for us all... a little sad...
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
School report
Today I had to go to Madison's school for a parent-teacher-conference.
It's my first at Pat's so I was a little apprehensive.
But I really didn't need to be! My appointment was for 9 am and I was right on time. Both her teachers were present, and they were really nice. They took me through her progress in class ( which seems quite good ), and her ability to socialise ( which was also ok! ) So overall a pretty satisfactory report. At the end there is a report card that I get to go through and that I have to sign and return. Just like in primary school! It feels strange, now that I'm not the ONE to get the card, but the one to SIGN the card! Getting OLD.
I'm glad that I sent her to Pat's. Disguised beneath the play that she does everyday in school are mini continual assessments and teaching. Quite genius. I can't imagine doing all that at home with her. I would go CRAZY. They actually teach the kids to count meaningfully, recognize the alphabet, lay down the foundation for reading in BOTH languages. And it gets harder with each semester.
But I think what happens at home makes a difference too. I think being surrounded by natural teachers at home also help her progress more quickly in school.
It's my first at Pat's so I was a little apprehensive.
But I really didn't need to be! My appointment was for 9 am and I was right on time. Both her teachers were present, and they were really nice. They took me through her progress in class ( which seems quite good ), and her ability to socialise ( which was also ok! ) So overall a pretty satisfactory report. At the end there is a report card that I get to go through and that I have to sign and return. Just like in primary school! It feels strange, now that I'm not the ONE to get the card, but the one to SIGN the card! Getting OLD.
I'm glad that I sent her to Pat's. Disguised beneath the play that she does everyday in school are mini continual assessments and teaching. Quite genius. I can't imagine doing all that at home with her. I would go CRAZY. They actually teach the kids to count meaningfully, recognize the alphabet, lay down the foundation for reading in BOTH languages. And it gets harder with each semester.
But I think what happens at home makes a difference too. I think being surrounded by natural teachers at home also help her progress more quickly in school.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Madison's school holidays
It's been crazy busy!
This week Madison has her holidays from school. Really NOT easy trying to figure out what to do with an energetic preschooler EVERY DAY.
The weekend that passed was pretty good. Madison had her tennis and music lessons on Saturday, then we met up with friends for tennis and dinner Sunday. Nice.
Celine is back for a visit too so we managed to see her and her kids early this week. Her son Aaron tagged along to Madison's art class on Wednesday so we got to have coffee and cake at Pepperoni's while we waited the hour for them to be done.
What else? Took the 2 girls to Jacob Ballas garden on Tuesday since I took the morning off work. Annika had a blast! She really liked the water play area! Madison used too but has since developed an AVERSION to the wet-but-not-swimming-pool-wet type of feel. So sad. She spent the time climbing up the ladders at the treehouse though. We also visited the ecopond nearby in the Botanic Gardens and managed to feed the black swans and fish. That was a nice way to spend the morning!
Yesterday I took Madison swimming in the morning in our pool. That was it. Then we basically hung out until I went to work in the afternoon.
Today, I took her to the Asian Civilisation Museum at Empress place. I read that they were showcasing the Terracotta Warriors brought ALL THE WAY from China. It was actually pretty cool! The exhibit wasn't very big, only 8 warriors and a horse, but the rest of the museum had lots of stuff to look at. Madison was really good. She walked around the museum with me, all 3 floors of it! Took us about 2 hours to go through it all. Of course we didn't spend hours gawking at the exhibits.
We ended the trip with a bus ride home. I decided not to drive ( good choice! ) because the area is highly guarded by ERP gantries and expensive parking. We took a cab there and on the way back I gave her the choice of bus or taxi. I guess riding in a bus is a novelty for her. Took us 10 minutes to get there and 45minutes to get back!
This week Madison has her holidays from school. Really NOT easy trying to figure out what to do with an energetic preschooler EVERY DAY.
The weekend that passed was pretty good. Madison had her tennis and music lessons on Saturday, then we met up with friends for tennis and dinner Sunday. Nice.
Celine is back for a visit too so we managed to see her and her kids early this week. Her son Aaron tagged along to Madison's art class on Wednesday so we got to have coffee and cake at Pepperoni's while we waited the hour for them to be done.
What else? Took the 2 girls to Jacob Ballas garden on Tuesday since I took the morning off work. Annika had a blast! She really liked the water play area! Madison used too but has since developed an AVERSION to the wet-but-not-swimming-pool-wet type of feel. So sad. She spent the time climbing up the ladders at the treehouse though. We also visited the ecopond nearby in the Botanic Gardens and managed to feed the black swans and fish. That was a nice way to spend the morning!
Yesterday I took Madison swimming in the morning in our pool. That was it. Then we basically hung out until I went to work in the afternoon.
Today, I took her to the Asian Civilisation Museum at Empress place. I read that they were showcasing the Terracotta Warriors brought ALL THE WAY from China. It was actually pretty cool! The exhibit wasn't very big, only 8 warriors and a horse, but the rest of the museum had lots of stuff to look at. Madison was really good. She walked around the museum with me, all 3 floors of it! Took us about 2 hours to go through it all. Of course we didn't spend hours gawking at the exhibits.
We ended the trip with a bus ride home. I decided not to drive ( good choice! ) because the area is highly guarded by ERP gantries and expensive parking. We took a cab there and on the way back I gave her the choice of bus or taxi. I guess riding in a bus is a novelty for her. Took us 10 minutes to get there and 45minutes to get back!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Annika's first birthday plans
My baby is turning one in July.
I cannot believe time has passed so quickly, in a blink of an eye she is becoming a toddler.
Annika is now walking with aid, and cruises easily. Her fine motor skills are pretty good too and she can feed herself quite well with her fingers. She copies her sister alot, and tries to do the things that Madison does, like colouring with texters or playing with stickers.
Her communication and social skills are well developed too, and she babbles endlessly. She is pointing with purpose now and clearly indicates her wants either by pointing or babbling. Of course she has the advantage of competition with older kids, unlike Madison, who was the only child at the same age.
Chris entered Annika in a baby competition over the weekend. It was the KKH best breastfed baby contest. We had to go over to the hospital at our scheduled time of 1030am, and it felt like I was taking a med school exam! We registered, then were taken past a lecture room into a smaller room where we had to wait outside for our turn. Inside the judging room there were 3 women who were "assessing" us. 1 examiner, 1 interrogator and 1 observer. Just like an OSCE.
Madison came along for the ride and they were really smart to play a Barney video ( obviously for the accompanying siblings!) in the lecture room. She sat out there waiting for us.
Not sure what happens next. They let us go after we cleared the neccessary hurdles.
As for Madison, she had her first proper tennis lesson on Saturday morning. We were really lucky, she finished the class just before it started to pour! I think she enjoyed the class, the rest of the day she was parroting what the teacher told her. I think she's forgotten it now though.
We had a quiet Sunday. It was raining cats and dogs the entire day and flooding in many parts of Singapore. Not easy trying to entertain 2 kids indoors the entire day. We went shopping in the late afternoon trying to find tennis gear for Madison. Not easy at all! I still cannot find a kiddy sized cap which she needs.
This weekend Chris is on call. NOT looking forward to it. I am giving Warni her monthly day off then too so that we can do stuff on the other weekends. It'll be my first time with 2 kids sans help ( hubby OR helper OR grandparents! )
I cannot believe time has passed so quickly, in a blink of an eye she is becoming a toddler.
Annika is now walking with aid, and cruises easily. Her fine motor skills are pretty good too and she can feed herself quite well with her fingers. She copies her sister alot, and tries to do the things that Madison does, like colouring with texters or playing with stickers.
Her communication and social skills are well developed too, and she babbles endlessly. She is pointing with purpose now and clearly indicates her wants either by pointing or babbling. Of course she has the advantage of competition with older kids, unlike Madison, who was the only child at the same age.
Chris entered Annika in a baby competition over the weekend. It was the KKH best breastfed baby contest. We had to go over to the hospital at our scheduled time of 1030am, and it felt like I was taking a med school exam! We registered, then were taken past a lecture room into a smaller room where we had to wait outside for our turn. Inside the judging room there were 3 women who were "assessing" us. 1 examiner, 1 interrogator and 1 observer. Just like an OSCE.
Madison came along for the ride and they were really smart to play a Barney video ( obviously for the accompanying siblings!) in the lecture room. She sat out there waiting for us.
Not sure what happens next. They let us go after we cleared the neccessary hurdles.
As for Madison, she had her first proper tennis lesson on Saturday morning. We were really lucky, she finished the class just before it started to pour! I think she enjoyed the class, the rest of the day she was parroting what the teacher told her. I think she's forgotten it now though.
We had a quiet Sunday. It was raining cats and dogs the entire day and flooding in many parts of Singapore. Not easy trying to entertain 2 kids indoors the entire day. We went shopping in the late afternoon trying to find tennis gear for Madison. Not easy at all! I still cannot find a kiddy sized cap which she needs.
This weekend Chris is on call. NOT looking forward to it. I am giving Warni her monthly day off then too so that we can do stuff on the other weekends. It'll be my first time with 2 kids sans help ( hubby OR helper OR grandparents! )
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